Jaw-trap.



J. E. BROGK.

JAW TRAP.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 7, 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

J/ E/VTOR JOHN ELIVIER BROOK, OF MAYOWORTH, WYOMING.

JAW-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Application filed June '7, 1909. Serial No. 500,560.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ELMER BROOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mayoworth, county of Johnson, and State of Wyoming, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Jaw-Traps, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a jaw trap, and particularly to a form inwhich the jaws are held in open or set position by means of a baitholding arm.

The invention has for an object to provide a construction entirelydispensing with the use of a spring connection with the bait arm, andproviding for the pivoting of thls arm at a point outside of one jawwhen the trap is set so that the trigger lug upon the arm will engagethe inner edge of said jaw, and the arm and jaw swing in oppositedirections when the trap is sprung thus securing a sensitive action in astructure not liable to be accidentally sprung by a small animal passingthereover.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter fully set forth and the novel features thereof defined bythe appended claims.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective of the invention; Fig. 2 is avertical section; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the "bait arm.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several views of the drawing.

The numeral 10 designates the base plate of the trap which is upturnedat one end 11 and there provided with pivoting apertures 12 to receivethe opposite jaws 13 of the trap. These apertures are of greaterdiameter than the pintles 14: of the jaws in order to allow a slightlateral movement of the jaw in setting the trap. The opposite end of thebase plate is provided with a post 15 also provided with enlargedapertures 16 to receive the pintles 14C of the jaws. Between the underface of the jaws and the top of the base plate the free ends 17 of theloop spring 18 are disposed. These ends are apertured to surround thepost and exert tension against the under face of the jaws. The jaws arepreferably formed of tapering cross section, as shown in Fig. 2 whichfacilitates the setting of the trap as hereinafter explained.

Extended laterally from the base plate 10 is a cross plate 19 having atits outer end the pivoting post 20, preferably formed of parallelmembers, as shown in Fig. 1. In this post the pan arm 21 is mounted bymeans of the pivot 22 and is provided at the outer side of the post witha lifting arm having a depending lug 23 adapted to engage the plate 19and limit the upward movement of the arm 21. This arm is formed at theinner side of the pivot with a depressed portion 24 disposed beneath theposition of the jaw when open, as shown in Fig. 2. At the inner side ofthe depressed portion 24 the arm is provided with a trigger or holdingshoulder 25 adapted to engage the upper flat face of the jaw anddisposed at a point above the plane of the pivot ofthe arm. The portion26 of the arm extends toward the center of the trap and may be thereprovided with any desired form of bail pan or holder 27.

In the operation of the invention it will be seen that whenthe trap isset, as shown by full lines in Fig.2, the jaw lies beneath the triggerof the arm and owing to its upward tension firmly holds the trap in setposition so that it is not liable to be accidentally sprung by contactwith small animals, and this holding arrangement entirely obviates thenecessity of the use of springs for retaining the bait arm in raisedposition. The use of such a spring creates a friction and a resistanceto the action of the main trap spring which renders the trap difiioultto be sprung, while the springs are affected by temperature, moistureand the collection of dirt about the same when the trap is placed uponthe ground. In this construction, the arm when in raised posi tion issupported beyond the pivot by the lug 23 against further elevation, andthe jaws and bait pan are held in a horizontal plane. For the purpose ofraising the bait arm into holding position without introducing the handinto the space between the jaws, pressure is applied to the horizontalportion of the lifting arm which is disposed at the opposite side of thepivot post from the trigger shoulder and thus provides means by whichthe trap may be safely set. When weight is placed upon the armsuflicient to overcome frictional resistance between the shoulderthereof and the jaw this arm swings inward and downward so as to freelyand quickly release itself from the jaw, while the latter travels upwardand inward in a path at an angle to that of the arm thus securing aquick and sensitive release of the jaw when a proper weight has beenapplied thereto. In the operation of setting the trap, the jaw is swungdownward and owing to the lateral movement allowed by its pivots passesover the trigger of the arm and under the tension of the trap spring isdrawn back beneath this trigger so as to at once raise the arm into theset position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The stop lug upon the arm prevents the arm being thrown entirely outwardfrom the jaws, and also limits the vertical movement thereof, while thestructure of this arm provides a firm and rigid construction not readilyaffected by dirt, temperature or moisture, and especially adapted foruse for large animals in which it is not desired that the trap be sprungby small animals or slight contact with the bait arm. The pivot for thearm is disposed at a point removed from the outer face of the jaw so asto form a long leverage in order that the trigger shoulder of the armmay swing in a long are to secure the most efficient releasing action ofthe jaw.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is In a jaw trap, a base plate havingjaws separately pivoted upon a fixed part thereof, one of which ismounted for lateral movement at its pivot, a closing spring for saidjaws, a lateral extension from said plate, a pivot post thereon outsideof one jaw when in opened position, a bait arm pivoted upon said postand provided with a recessed portion beneath the trigger shoulderthereof and of greater dimension vertically and 1011- gitudinally thanthat of the jaw at its point of contact with said shoulder, and alifting arm for said bait arm having a horizontal portion and adepending stop portion therefrom disposed at the opposite side of thepivot post from the trigger shoulder.

I11 testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ELMER BROCK. lVitnesses BURT Games,

ARTHUR E. BROWN.

